Military qualification: The Manhattan Project?

Anonymous · ‎03-21-2018

I often see everyone on these forums talk about how great the Navy Fed Credit Union or Pen Fed Credit cards are, so here is a strange question.
My great grandfather served in WW1, highly decorated, but I dunno if that counts. My great uncles both served, one was the sole survivor in a battle at the 38th Parallel in N. Korea, the other was stationed in Germany until he became the Chief of Police in San Berdo.
My grandfather was a cryptographer and helped build the NSA, Pentagon (with N.Korean war uncle), DOD, DOE and worked on the Manhattan Project at 16, but was also a technical member of the Army (was on Enewetak when they tested the Atom Bomb in Marshall Islands in 1946, also a sole survivor).

Now I know that's kinda a lot, but all three brothers (the two uncles and grandfather) died about 3 years ago.
My mother also went to school on a strange nuclear base in Ridgecrest, CA. ... but I have NO idea if that means anything! She says she doesn't know!
My family never, ever talked to me about their private service.
I'm totally afraid to ask since they've died!!!
But since they are dead, and if their files are capable of being found openly, do I qualify for places like a Naval CU or the Pen Fed type accounts?
I've been afraid to ask, and I would call the NSA or Pentagon, but that seems like I might sound completely retarded for asking about my eligibility at a military credit union!!
Like, they would just tell me "Go ahead and try, but we can't guarantee your family would be acceptable, yadda, yadda ..."
Or just think I must be thee most stupidly naive member of my family and, "Duh! Of course you do. Wow, how dumb can you be?"
🤤
Yeah. I know.
I should just ask.
I feel badly for not knowing more, tho.
Like, if I asked, I might get treated badly.
Now I dunno wth to do.
Thoughts? 😓

Anonymous · ‎03-21-2018

I got in based on my grandfather's service in World War 2. Gather whatever information you can find and give NFCU a call. Penfed can be joined through alternate routes right on their website.

RobertEG · ‎03-21-2018

With appropriate proof of identity that entitles one to access, you can obtain DOD service records of deceased relatives from their national records center in St. Louis. I would start by obtaining service records, which may be basis for supporting your claims.

It also makes very interesting reading.......

Anonymous · ‎03-22-2018

It might be hard to get the records for the uncles if they have direct descendents. I was able to get my uncle's WW2 records only because he never had children and his wife was also deceased.

UncleB · ‎03-25-2018

@Anonymouswrote:
I often see everyone on these forums talk about how great the Navy Fed Credit Union or Pen Fed Credit cards are, so here is a strange question.
My great grandfather served in WW1, highly decorated, but I dunno if that counts. My great uncles both served, one was the sole survivor in a battle at the 38th Parallel in N. Korea, the other was stationed in Germany until he became the Chief of Police in San Berdo.
My grandfather was a cryptographer and helped build the NSA, Pentagon (with N.Korean war uncle), DOD, DOE and worked on the Manhattan Project at 16, but was also a technical member of the Army (was on Enewetak when they tested the Atom Bomb in Marshall Islands in 1946, also a sole survivor).

Now I know that's kinda a lot, but all three brothers (the two uncles and grandfather) died about 3 years ago.
My mother also went to school on a strange nuclear base in Ridgecrest, CA. ... but I have NO idea if that means anything! She says she doesn't know!
My family never, ever talked to me about their private service.
I'm totally afraid to ask since they've died!!!
But since they are dead, and if their files are capable of being found openly, do I qualify for places like a Naval CU or the Pen Fed type accounts?
I've been afraid to ask, and I would call the NSA or Pentagon, but that seems like I might sound completely retarded for asking about my eligibility at a military credit union!!
Like, they would just tell me "Go ahead and try, but we can't guarantee your family would be acceptable, yadda, yadda ..."
Or just think I must be thee most stupidly naive member of my family and, "Duh! Of course you do. Wow, how dumb can you be?"
🤤
Yeah. I know.
I should just ask.
I feel badly for not knowing more, tho.
Like, if I asked, I might get treated badly.
Now I dunno wth to do.
Thoughts? 😓

Gaining membership to PenFed isn't hard even for non-military, so if it were me I would concentrate on the NFCU eligibility.

I know that you can be eligible based on a grandparent's service, but I honestly don't know about great-grandparent; you would need to call NFCU and ask.

If using a great-grandparent isn't permitted, you might be able to use your own parent as a go-between. In any case NFCU is great to deal with, and I'm sure they have dealt with this situation before.

Let us know how it goes!

SouthJamaica · ‎03-25-2018

@Anonymouswrote:
I often see everyone on these forums talk about how great the Navy Fed Credit Union or Pen Fed Credit cards are, so here is a strange question.
My great grandfather served in WW1, highly decorated, but I dunno if that counts. My great uncles both served, one was the sole survivor in a battle at the 38th Parallel in N. Korea, the other was stationed in Germany until he became the Chief of Police in San Berdo.
My grandfather was a cryptographer and helped build the NSA, Pentagon (with N.Korean war uncle), DOD, DOE and worked on the Manhattan Project at 16, but was also a technical member of the Army (was on Enewetak when they tested the Atom Bomb in Marshall Islands in 1946, also a sole survivor).

Now I know that's kinda a lot, but all three brothers (the two uncles and grandfather) died about 3 years ago.
My mother also went to school on a strange nuclear base in Ridgecrest, CA. ... but I have NO idea if that means anything! She says she doesn't know!
My family never, ever talked to me about their private service.
I'm totally afraid to ask since they've died!!!
But since they are dead, and if their files are capable of being found openly, do I qualify for places like a Naval CU or the Pen Fed type accounts?
I've been afraid to ask, and I would call the NSA or Pentagon, but that seems like I might sound completely retarded for asking about my eligibility at a military credit union!!
Like, they would just tell me "Go ahead and try, but we can't guarantee your family would be acceptable, yadda, yadda ..."
Or just think I must be thee most stupidly naive member of my family and, "Duh! Of course you do. Wow, how dumb can you be?"
🤤
Yeah. I know.
I should just ask.
I feel badly for not knowing more, tho.
Like, if I asked, I might get treated badly.
Now I dunno wth to do.
Thoughts? 😓

PenFed does not require a military connection.

NFCU and Service CU will accept you for membership based on your relatives' service, and there are numerous reports that you don't need documentation or extensive detail.